UV-DTF INK is a UV-curable ink designed for the digital direct jet transfer process, which is essential in the textile, advertising and other industries. It is based on light-curing resins with photoinitiators, pigments and functional additives. When working, the release film is accurately sprayed by the nozzle to form a delicate pattern, irradiated by ultraviolet rays, the photoinitiator produces free radicals to trigger the resin polymerization reaction, the ink is instantly cured, the pattern is fixed on the release film, and then transferred to the surface of soft materials such as fabric and leather by hot pressing to complete the transfer. In terms of performance, its color expression is amazing, and it can accurately present complex gradient colors and delicate pattern details; The curing speed is extremely fast, which meets the needs of large-scale production; Strong adhesion to transfer materials, washable, friction and weathering, not easy to fade, crack or fall off; And it is green and environmentally friendly, curing almost no VOCs, meeting the requirements of environmental protection production, and helping the sustainable development of the industry.
1. The working principle
The working principle of UV-DTF Ink is based on advanced light curing technology and digital direct injection process. Inks are mainly composed of light-curing resins, photoinitiators, pigments and functional additives. When transferring to the press, UV-DTF ink is sprayed directly onto the release film with a high-precision nozzle, and a variety of delicate and delicate patterns are formed using the precise control of the nozzle. Immediately afterward, the patterns are exposed to ultraviolet light. Photoinitiators, under the excitation of ultraviolet light, quickly absorb energy and produce a large number of free radicals. These free radicals act as catalysts for chemical reactions, initiating polymerization reactions between light-curing resins, allowing the otherwise liquid ink to cure in a very short period of time, holding the pattern firmly on the release film. Finally, with the help of the hot pressing process, under a certain temperature and pressure, the curing pattern on the release film can be perfectly transferred to the surface of soft materials such as fabric, leather, artificial leather, etc., to complete the entire transfer process.
2. How to use
Equipment preparation
Choose a digital direct injection printer suitable for UV-DTF Ink to ensure that the printer printhead has high precision and good stability. At the same time, prepare a release film with reliable quality, the release effect and surface flatness of the release film will directly affect the transfer quality.
Ink loading
Carefully install the UV-DTF Ink cartridge on the printer, and pay attention to avoid collision and tilt of the ink cartridge to prevent ink leakage from affecting the printing effect and the normal operation of the device. Once the installation is complete, perform a simple ink initialization operation to let the printer recognize the ink cartridge.
Pattern design and setting
Complete the pattern design in professional graphic design software, and adjust the pattern size, resolution, color mode and other parameters according to actual needs. Import the designed pattern into the printer driver, and set the printing parameters in the driver, including printhead voltage, ink volume, print speed, etc., which need to be optimized according to the characteristics of the release film and substrate.
Printing & Transfer
Start the printer and place the release film on the printer's printing platform to ensure that the release film is flat and wrinkle-free. The printer starts working, spraying UV-DTF Ink onto the release film to form a pattern. After printing, the patterned release film is covered with the soft material to be transferred and placed in the heat press. According to the different materials, set the appropriate hot pressing temperature, pressure and time, the general temperature is 130 - 180 °C, the pressure is 5 - 10kg/cm², the time is 10 - 30 seconds, and the heat press is started to complete the transfer.
3. Maintenance and repair
(1) Maintenance
Printer maintenance
Regularly use a special cleaning solution to clean the printer nozzle to prevent the ink from drying out and clogging the nozzle. It is generally recommended to do a simple printhead cleaning after printing every day, and a deep cleaning once a week. At the same time, regularly check the ink path system of the printer to ensure that there is no loosening or leakage of ink tubes, joints and other components.
Ink & Consumables Management
Unused UV-DTF Ink should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark environment away from high temperature and humidity to prevent ink deterioration. The release film should also be stored properly to avoid contamination with dust and oil.
Hot press maintenance
Regularly check the heating element, pressure sensor and temperature control system of the hot press to ensure that the hot press can stably provide the right temperature and pressure. After each use of the hot press, clean the surface of the hot platen in time to prevent residual ink or impurities from affecting the next transfer effect.
(2) Maintenance
Nozzle failure
If the nozzle is blocked, you can soak the nozzle with a special cleaning solution to dredge it first. If the blockage is severe, you need to contact a professional maintenance personnel to use professional tools to clean or replace the sprinkler head.
Ink path problem
When there is a leak in the ink path, stop the printer immediately, check the ink tube, connector and other parts, and replace the damaged parts. If the ink supply is not smooth, it may be that the ink filter is clogged and the filter needs to be replaced.
Failure of hot press
If the hot press has problems such as unstable temperature and uneven pressure, you should contact the manufacturer's after-sales personnel for maintenance in time, and you may need to replace key components such as heating elements and pressure sensors.
4. Advantages
Excellent color performance
UV-DTF Ink has a wide color gamut, which can present extremely rich and vivid colors, and the color reproduction is extremely high, whether it is colorful artistic patterns or realistic photo images, it can be accurately presented to meet the design and printing needs of strict color requirements.
Fast curing and efficient production
Under ultraviolet irradiation, the ink can be cured instantly, which greatly shortens the production cycle and improves production efficiency. This fast-curing feature makes UV-DTF Ink ideal for mass production and meeting the market's demand for fast delivery.
Good adhesion and durability
There is strong adhesion between the cured ink and the transfer material, and the transfer pattern has good washability, friction resistance and weather resistance, and it is not easy to fade, crack or fall off after long-term use, which ensures the service life and quality of the product.
Green and environmental protection
UV-DTF Ink produces almost no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the curing process, which poses little harm to the environment and the health of operators, and is in line with the current trend and requirements of environmentally friendly production.
5. The benefits of customer choice
Cost-effective
Fast curing speed and efficient production capacity reduce time and labor costs. At the same time, good durability reduces the cost of after-sales maintenance and replacement of products, and improves the cost performance of products.
Quality improvement
Excellent color performance and firm adhesion make the transferred products have higher quality and added value, which can help enterprises stand out in the market competition and win the favor of more customers.
Creative expansion
UV-DTF Ink can achieve high-quality transfer printing on a variety of soft materials, providing designers and enterprises with a broader creative space to meet the needs of personalized customization and diversified markets.
6. Industry application
Textile and garment industry
It used for pattern printing of T-shirts, sweatshirts, sportswear, etc., which can achieve personalized design and small batch customization to meet consumers' pursuit of fashion and personalization.
Advertising decoration industry
The production of all kinds of soft advertising logos, such as flags, banners, light box cloth, etc., bright colors, good durability, can maintain a good display effect in the outdoor environment for a long time.
Leather products industry
It printing exquisite patterns on leather bags, leather shoes, leather clothing and other products to enhance the aesthetics and added value of leather products.
Household goods industry
It applied to curtains, pillows, carpets and other home textiles pattern decoration, to add a unique artistic atmosphere to the home environment.
7. Future development prospects
With the growing consumer demand for personalized, high-quality products and the growing environmental awareness, the market for UV-DTF Ink is very promising. In the future, R&D personnel will continue to optimize the ink formula and further improve the performance of the ink, such as improving the stability of color, enhancing the compatibility of ink with more new materials, and reducing production costs. At the same time, with the expansion of the application of digital direct injection transfer technology in more fields, UV-DTF Ink is expected to play an important role in emerging fields such as smart wearables, automotive interiors, and medical supplies, continue to promote the innovation and development of related industries, and bring more business opportunities and development momentum to various industries.
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